Method and apparatus for producing printing surfaces



ITII. $1M

May 29, 1928.

J. L. ROUSSEAU METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING SURFACE-S Filed Oct. 17, 1924 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LEE ROUSSEAU, BROOKLYN, NEW'YORK; ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK. v l

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING SURFACES.

Application filed. October 17, 1924. Serial No. 744,103.

This invention relates to the production of printing surfaces, and has reference more particularly to the formation of the printing surfaces of rubber stamps, the object of the invention being to enable the formation of the rubber type or line of typesto be carried out by the use of formative matrices such as are employed in the well known commercial linotype machines. In accordance with my invention, such matrices may be employed either individually to produce separate rubber type or inseries to produce a type line. In the present instance, the matrices are so constructed that they may be employed in their usual environment in the regular commercial linotype machine, which is particularly desirable for obvious reasons.

In carrying out the invention, there is employed a suitable matrix containing in its edge a negative cameo character; a mold is then made from this character by casting type metal thereagainst, said mold thus containing in its face a, positive intagliochais acter; and into this mold, rubber or other suitable plastic material is forced to produce a negative cameo printing character, which when impressed on a suitable receiving surface will give a positive print.

In practising the invention in connection with a. linotype machine, the machine is equipped with conventional matrix bodies formed with negative cameo characters, which matrix bodies are assembled in line in the usual way by the manipulation'of the keyboard mechanism, and the line thereafter delivered between the customaryclamping jaws which hold the line in operative relation to the regular casting mold. Molten type metal is then, in the well known manner, injected into the mold against the line of formative characters, and as a result there is produced a slug containing in its edge a reproduction of the formative characters but in the form of positive intaglio characters, such slug constituting in effect a metal mold or matrix. Into the mold thus cast, plastic material of whichthe printing surface is to be formed (for instance soft rubber) is forced, thereby producing a printing surface having negative intaglio characters which will give a positive print.

.In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a linotype matrix provided witha formative character suitable for the practice of the improved method;'

Fig. 2 is an elevation of an assembled line of such matrices showing the formative characters as they'appear when the line is presented to receive the cast; V

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the matrix line presented to the casting mold and melting pot of a linotype machine;

Fig. t is a perspective view of the slug resultlng from the casting operation;

F g. 5 is a Sectional perspective view showing the plastic material, of which the final printing surface is formed, forced into the intaglio characters of the slug of Fig. 4 to form the printing surface; and

Flg. 6 is a perspectiveview of the final printing surface. I

The improved method will herein be described as practised in connection with a two groups of matrices being separated by H the usual expansible spaceband C which jus tifies the hue. The assembled matrix line is next presented to the face ofa slotted mold D, and molten metal is injected into the mold slot and up against the formative characters a from a melting pot E as shown m Fig. 3, thereby'forming a'slug F, as in Fig. 4:, containing in its edge a reproduction of the characters of'the matrix line but in the form of positive intaglio characters 7, reading from left to right. The slug thus cast forms in effect a metal mold or matrix adapted to receive the plastic material (for instance rubber) of which the final printing surface is to be formed. This plastic material G, is now forced by suitable means into the intaglio characters ,1, see'Fig. 5, and

the material is built up to form a strip or plate H bearing on its r'ace a line of negative cameo characters It reading from right to left and constituting the final rubber printing surface, which when applied against a suitable impression surface will give a positive print as usual.

B the employment of .li-notype matrices as a ove described, the method ,may beacarried out in a simple effective and uniform manner without the inconvenient, laborious and troublesome practices heretofore followed in making up the mold or form in which the rubber material is cast. Thus, the matrix line is speedily set up by the manipulation of the linger keys of the keyboard,tand a metal slug of definite and uni;- form dimensions is cast "from the assembled matrices and serves as a mold into which the rubber material is forced to produce the final printing surface. This method of procedure is a great improvement over that now practised for theproduction of the printing surfaces of rubber stamps, such practice involving the use of individual male type which are set intoline, the line surrounded by a dam or guard, and a plastic mass of plaster of Paris made up and pressed into the guard against the type lines so as to form a matrix or mold to receive the rubber material. By the improved method of operation, no treatment of the matriir'line, such as the provisiono f a guard or dam is necessary to enable the slug or mold to be cast thereagainst, and the untidy operationneeessary to make up a matrix of plaster of Paris is dispensed with, and a metal mold or slug of definite dimensions is'cast directly against the assembled matrices, andproduces a. mold into which theflrubber material is forced to form the final rubber printing surface.

It will be understood that the samesteps 1 will be followed in the practice of the improved method when the parts are manipulated by hand, as may be done if preferred. It should also be. understood that the matrices, instead of being used in series as above described, may be used individually to produce individual moldmembersvvhich in turn may be used singly tor the productionof individual rubber type or in series for the production ofan integral line of type. .Such

.duction of any surface which requires use 0t negative cameo ;p1 1nt1ng type.

variations of the invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departure from its scope.

While the present invention has been herein shown and described for the production oi'a rubber printing surface, it is pointed out that it is equally applicable for the prothe It should also be observed that the cast metal slug F, which containsxpositive intaglio characters may be useful in various other connections tor the production of printing surfaces, as for example for offset printing.

Having thus described my-inven'tiojn, what I claim is:

1. The method of producing printing ='surfaces, which consists in assembling a"-line of matrices having uninverted negative cameo characters reading from righttoleft, casting a slug against said characters to 'lornra mold containing a line of positive intaglio characters reading from right to left, and forcing plasticmaterial into said mold to term a printing surface having negative cameo characters.

E2.'The method of producing a rubber printing type surface, which {consists in assembling a line of matrices having uninverted negative cameo characters reading from right to left, casting a metal slug against said characters to form a mold having positive intaglio characters reading from right to left, and forcing rubber into said mold to form a rubber type line having negative. cameo characters.

The combination with a line or group of matrices formed with uninvertednegative cameo characters reading from right to left, and means for casting therefrom a metal slug containing positive intaglio character's reading from left to right. I

l. The combination with a line or group er matrices formed with uninverted negative cameo characters'reading from right to left, and means for casting therefrom a metal slug containing positive intaglio characters reading from left to right, said slug serving as a mold from which a printing surface may be produced. r

,Intestimony whereof, I "have .afiixed my signature hereto. i

JDSEPH LEE ROUSSEAU. 

